OXNARD, Calif. -- Sanjay Lal calls Tavon Austin the "spark plug" of the wide receiver group. His energy, vocal leadership and attention to detail in practice have impressed his new position coach and teammates.

"That's always been me," Austin said. "You got to respect the game. You can't come out here and just think you're going to do it in the game and not do it in practice."

Austin, 28, has been used in a variety of ways through the first five training camp practices in pads. He has lined up in the slot, on the outside and taken handoffs on end-arounds. He's the front-runner to be the team's punt returner.

The only thing he hasn't done is line up in the back field. When the Cowboys traded for Austin during this year's draft, they talked about using him as a running back and receiver.

"All the things you see me doing out here is pretty much what I'll be doing," Austin said. "I ain't touched the backfield yet, but hopefully, eventually if they need me back there, I'll be back there too."

The 5-8, 180-pound former West Virginia standout was the eighth overall pick in 2013. He spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams before being traded to the Cowboys for a sixth round pick in April.

Austin's numbers dropped significantly last season as he finished with 13 catches for 47 yards and 59 rushes for 270 yards and a touchdown last season.

Austin has said that wrist and hamstring injuries limited him in 2017.

He's now using the trade as a chip on his shoulder.

"There's always going to be a chip on my shoulder," Austin said. "No. 1 because I've always been small. I had the same thing coming out [of college] when I went No. 8. The chip is always going to be there regardless. But last year was a little hard for me. My injury and I didn't get a fair chance over there. But at the end of the day, God's got me right now.

"I'm just happy right now. They [are giving me] an opportunity and I'm making the best of it."